O40 A Comparison of Food Security Screeners in a Metropolitan Primary Care Center

Abstract

BackgroundPartnerships between primary care providers and food banks are novel approaches to improving food security. These prescriptive pantry programs include food security screening during clinical visits and food assistance based on current level of food insecurity. Food security screeners sensitive to differences in level of household food security are vital to success of these programs.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a food security screener used to categorize households as high/moderate, low, or very low food secure (USDA 6-SF) in comparison to a screener that only dichotomizes households as food secure or insecure (USDA 2-item).Study Design, Setting, ParticipantsIn February 2020, 137 individuals were screened for food security during clinical visits at a metropolitan primary care center in Kentucky. The study was conducted over a 4-week period.Measurable Outcome/AnalysisThe 2-item screener ranked 15 (11%) of individuals as having high/marginal food security and 122 (85%) as having low food security. However, the USDA 6-SF categorized 54 (44%) of the 122 as having very low food security.ResultsIn this prescriptive pantry program, individuals who were screened as food insecure were previously receiving 1 box of food. However, following the implementation of the USDA 6-SF, individuals who screened as having low food security received 1 box of food while those screened as having very low food security received 2 boxes of food. In this sample screened within a 1 month period, 54 (39.4%) individuals were given an additional bag of food based on their assessed food security status.ConclusionIndividuals with very low food security would not have received adequate food supplies following assessment with the 2-item screener. Appropriate screening and provision of adequate food assistance for those who screen low or very low food secure can decrease the negative mental health impact and risk of chronic disease associated with food insecurity. Partnerships between primary care providers and food banks are novel approaches to improving food security. These prescriptive pantry programs include food security screening during clinical visits and food assistance based on current level of food insecurity. Food security screeners sensitive to differences in level of household food security are vital to success of these programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a food security screener used to categorize households as high/moderate, low, or very low food secure (USDA 6-SF) in comparison to a screener that only dichotomizes households as food secure or insecure (USDA 2-item). In February 2020, 137 individuals were screened for food security during clinical visits at a metropolitan primary care center in Kentucky. The study was conducted over a 4-week period. The 2-item screener ranked 15 (11%) of individuals as having high/marginal food security and 122 (85%) as having low food security. However, the USDA 6-SF categorized 54 (44%) of the 122 as having very low food security. In this prescriptive pantry program, individuals who were screened as food insecure were previously receiving 1 box of food. However, following the implementation of the USDA 6-SF, individuals who screened as having low food security received 1 box of food while those screened as having very low food security received 2 boxes of food. In this sample screened within a 1 month period, 54 (39.4%) individuals were given an additional bag of food based on their assessed food security status. Individuals with very low food security would not have received adequate food supplies following assessment with the 2-item screener. Appropriate screening and provision of adequate food assistance for those who screen low or very low food secure can decrease the negative mental health impact and risk of chronic disease associated with food insecurity.